228 HUNTING REMINISCENCES 



from Wilsford Carrs, hounds killing their fox in 

 Ancaster Quarries on the very edge of a pit from 

 fifty to sixty feet deep. " I jumped from my horse 

 and tried to get hold of the fox which hounds were 

 worrying on the brink of the precipice, but before 

 it was possible to do so three couples rolled over 

 and lay on the rough stones as if lifeless. Though 

 much hurt, all fortunately recovered from this 

 nasty accident with careful nursing." 



Rough weather this season probably caused 

 many of the varmint to take up their quarters 

 in hollow trees, though in some districts, such 

 as Stapleford Park, this climbing propensity is 

 attributed to the light shelving nature of the soil, 

 and the fear of being easily scratched out by hounds 

 or stray dogs. On February 5th, "we went to 

 the willow tree by Wyfordby and for the second 

 time found Charles on his perch, so comfortable 

 that he refused at first to be dislodged ; but Mr. 

 Spreckly, the occupier of the land, at last drove him 

 off, and away he went in view crossing the 

 railway. Unfortunately, when roused again a few 

 days later he ran into the pack, who were out of 

 sight behind a hedge, and so ended his career." 

 Another instance is recorded on March 10th, when 

 hounds raced a fox from Tipping's Gorse, and he 

 popped into the trunk of an old oak tree at Croxton 

 Banks. Curiously enough when Bob Knott, who 

 had succeeded Tom Chambers, climbed up the tree 

 he poked out a brace. 



The opening day of the season was November 

 4th at Three Queens, the Duke of Rutland and 



